The Chernobyl nuclear accident 40 years ago marked a historic turning point – with consequences that persist to this day. The damaged reactor has still not been decommissioned, and the situation has recently worsened further due to war-related damage.
The anniversary event provided a comprehensive overview of the disaster and subsequent developments. Following the opening remarks by Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, the sequence of events, the causes, and the consequences at the site were examined in detail. The latest developments were presented, particularly against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law.
The subsequent focus was on the lessons that German emergency response has drawn from Chernobyl. Concrete examples were used to illustrate these points. Finally, a high-profile panel led by State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth discussed whether nuclear energy can truly be a savior for the climate or is it rather a "dead horse", as former Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz called nuclear power in Germany.
